A Conductive Self-Healing Hybrid Gel Enabled by Metal–Ligand Supramolecule and Nanostructured Conductive Polymer

Abstract

Self-healing materials emerge as a fascinating class of materials important for various technological applications. However, achieving the synergistic characteristics of high conductivity, room-temperature self-healing ability, and decent mechanical properties still remains a critical challenge. Here we develop for the first time a hybrid gel based on self-assembled supramolecular gel and nanostructured polypyrrole that synergizes the dynamic assembly/disassembly nature of metal-ligand supramolecule and the conductive nanostructure of polypyrrole hydrogel and exhibits features of high conductivity (12 S m(-1)), appealing mechanical and electrical self-healing property without any external stimuli, and enhanced mechanical strength and flexibility. The attractive characteristics of the hybrid gel are further demonstrated by a flexible yet self-healable electrical circuit. Our work shows the great potential of self-healing hybrid gel system in flexible electronics and provides a useful strategy to design multifunctional self-healing materials.